Previous scriptural based alphabetical phrases in my most recent posts are: Invade me and Involve me; Kind words, Kind ways; and Lord of my life. Today's post is: Make me, Mold me, Move me.

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‍Make me, Mold me, Move me? Synopsis of Numbers 13; 14:1-11; 32-35

‍When God brought the Israelite nation out of Egypt, He planned to lead them into Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. Two young faith-filled men, Joshua and Caleb, scoped out the land and came back with a wonderful report. However, the Israelites were full of fear and dismay due to other men's negative reports about the presence "giants in the land." Because the people did not trust in the goodness of the Lord, He could not make, mold, or move them into the land of blessing. Their lack of faith caused God's people to wander in the desert for forty years; but even in their faithless grumbling,  the Lord provided for them there, both day and night.

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‍Make me, Mold me, Move me! Synopsis of Ruth 1:8-18; 2:1-3; 3:9-11; 4:13-15

However, in another time and place there was a Moabite woman named Ruth. She was a young widow who had lost her husband to sickness. She was left with her mother-in-law Naomi, whom she deeply loved. Eventually, Naomi, also a widow, decided that it was time to go back to Judah, her homeland. Naomi insisted that Ruth (and her sister) go back to their own family and their own gods, but Ruth was determined to follow Naomi. She spoke these devoted words to her mother-in-law, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God." Because Ruth's heart was willing, God could make, mold, and move her into a land and life of blessing. The Lord rewarded Ruth's walk of faith by providing her with a kinsman redeemer and husband named Boaz, and a son named Obed; and in time and history, she became the great grandmother of King David of Israel.

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‍‍When looking at these two contrasting stories, here are a few questions:

Do I let fear rule my actions or inactions?

Do I fully trust God in times of unknown?

What can I do practically to live by "faith in God" over "fear of what might happen"?

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I see the fear of the Israelites and then the faith of Ruth. Fear of potential dangers kept the Israelite people from moving forward into what was already beautifully laid out before them; whereas Ruth's faith propelled her to walk forward into an unknown territory with confidence. I want to be like Ruth, having blind faith in an all-seeing God, trusting in Him more than bowing to my fears, making bold declarations and stepping into them; then, as a result, receiving His beautiful blessing within His provident plan. Yes, I want to be like Ruth.

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So Lord, make me, mold me, and move me into Your will for my life.

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‍For where You go, I will go...

My most recent ABC posts have been: Kind words, Kind ways; Loving Lord of my Life; Make me, Mold me, Move me. Today's post is Name above all Names.

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‍Name above all Names?  Synopsis of Genesis 1:1-9.

‍In one point in time and history, all people spoke the same language. These people who lived in the land of Shinar, came together and said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower whose top will reach heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth." God, seeing the intentions of their heart, could not allow them to succeed with their power-hungry plans. They wanted to be as strong and mighty as God Himself, but He alone bears the Name above all Names. Therefore, while the people were in the midst of building their high tower, He confused their language; no one could understand what was being said to one another. As a result, the building process stopped, and the people scattered across the face of the earth.

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‍Name above all Names! Synopsis of Philippians 2:6-11.

‍There is only One who bears the Name above all Names, and that is Jesus. Jesus is One with God; Jesus is God incarnate. Scripture says, Jesus, who, existing in the form of God did not consider equality with God a thing to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of men, and when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow--of those who are in heaven and on earth--and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A few questions to ponder:

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‍Am I trying to "make a name for myself" in some way?

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Do I wrestle with pride or control in relationships or agendas?

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What can I do in a practical way to help me turn my heart towards the Lord in these areas?

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‍When looking at these two stories, I see one people group, unified for the purpose of making themselves great and powerful, with no regard of God at all. As a result, there was both confusion and dispersion. And then. there is Jesus, King of kings, Lord of Lords, coming to earth as a bond-slave, and giving up His own life by dying on a cross for the sins of all people... for the purpose of unifying us to him as well as to others. Scripture implores, Make your own attitude like that of Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5).

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Let each one of us, TODAY, bend our knee to the Name above all Names. And then, let each one of us, TODAY, rise up and live like Jesus did. We are here not to make a name for ourselves, but to magnify his name by the things we say and do.

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Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalm 115:1

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The previous few ABC posts are as follows: Lord of my Life; Make Me, Mold Me, Move Me; and Name above all Names. Today, it's Offer help Often.

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Offer help Often? Synopsis of Luke 10:25-32.

‍Jesus spoke a parable to a certain lawyer in order to explain the statement, Love your neighbor as yourself. The parable unfolds: A man was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when robbers attacked him, leaving him beaten, stripped, and half dead. A short while later, a priest came upon the dying man, observed him, and chose to walk to the other side of the road. Likewise, another religious man, a Levite, came upon the wounded traveler and he, too, deliberately passed to the other side of the road. Neither of these men chose to offer help at all.

Offer help Often! Synopsis of Luke 10:25-37.

‍However, a Samaratin came upon the beaten man. When he saw him, he bandaged his wounds, pouring his oil and wine on them. He then put him on his donkey and took him to a nearby inn. The whole day the Samaritan offered help often to the wounded traveler. From this point forward, he made sure all the suffering man's needs would be met, and was willing to pay these expenses. The Samaritan portrayed a beautiful picture of what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.

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What a contrast in this one parable. And how convicting it is! When I look at the merciless inaction of the priest and the Levite, both "righteous" individuals, I have to ask myself:

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Am I, in any way, disregarding someone in need?

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Am I afraid to get my hands dirty?

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Am I too busy to offer help?

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There are people on the "roadside of life" who are wounded and broken. There are people who are crushed in spirit. There are people who are suffering and in need. These people are waiting for someone, a close friend or even a distant stranger, to stop and touch them boldly and mercifully and abundantly. Let's be that person.

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‍Lord, please make me like this Samaritan, full of mercy, full of compassion... full of action. Show me who it is You want me to touch with Your love, and give me the ability, the energy, and the obedience to follow through. I want to offer help often. I want to love my neighbor. Amen

My three previous ABC posts are: Make me, Mold me, Move me; Name above all Names; and Offer help Often. The next phrase is: Prince of Peace, Please Come.

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‍Prince of Peace, Please Come? Synopsis of John 8:39-42, 56-59.

‍During Jesus' day, the leading scribes and Pharisees could not accept Jesus as the Son of God. They considered their "father" to be Abraham and they strictly followed the rules and regulations from long ago. These religious men did not understand that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law, as well as the new law- full of freedom, peace, and joy! Jesus told these Jews, "Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw and was glad…Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." When Jesus claimed to be greater than Abraham, and equal to God, they became enraged. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, had come and He was standing directly in front of them; but sadly, these men did not recognize Him.

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‍Prince of Peace, Please Come! Synopsis of Daniel 3:8-30.

‍However, there were three other men, many hundreds of years prior, that had an unshakable faith in their God. At this point in history, the Israelites had been taken into captivity. All the people were commanded to bow down before a giant golden statue erected by King Nebuchadnezzar. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused, the king ordered them to be bound and thrown into a fiery furnace. The courageous young men said, "The God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." While the young men were in the midst of the fire, the king saw and spoke with amazement, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?…Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." Most certainly, the Prince of Peace had come.

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When I look at these two stories side by side, here are few questions:

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Do I believe God is with me, even in (especially in) difficult times?

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Do I believe God will not leave me, no matter how hard things get?

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What are practical ways that I can remind myself of the peaceful presence of God?

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The Jewish scribes and Pharisees in the passage above simply could not and did not believe Jesus to be the Messiah. They closed their ears to His words and their eyes to His works. Therefore, His presence meant nothing. However, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, although they could not see God, they believed He existed as Savior. Their unshakeable faith gave them courage to step into the fire. There, they recognized the Prince of Peace.

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Are you in the midst of a "fiery furnace" right now? Are there flames of anxiety, fear, sadness, or disappointment waving about?  Believe He is with you. Know that He cares for you. What God did physically for these three faithful men long ago, He will do for your heart and soul today. Call on your Prince of Peace and He will come. Recognize Him, trust Him, walk with Him, even in the midst of the fire.

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‍Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

My past three ABC posts include: Name above all Names, Offer help Often, and Prince of Peace Please Come. Today, it's Quiet my Questioning heart.

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Quiet my Questioning heart? Synopsis Exodus 15:23-16:1-17.

‍Long ago, Moses led the Israelite nation out of slavery from Egypt. They survived the ten plagues and made a grand exit, straight through the parted Red Sea. These people saw and experienced God's powerful work on their behalf. Three days into their new freedom journey, however, they began to grumble due to lack of water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter…So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" Likewise, two weeks later, they grumbled again, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you (Moses) have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." The Israelite nation could not trust the faithfulness of God due to their unquieted questioning hearts. In spite of their grumbling, the Lord provided food and water daily for them during the disciplining forty years in the desert.

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Quiet my Questioning heart! Synopsis of Genesis 37, 39, 50:20.

‍If only these Israelites had remembered the story of their great ancestor Joseph. As a young man, he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers; then later, once in Egypt, he was thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. For a decade, he had reason to cry out often, "Lord, quiet my questioning heart!" In His time and in His way, God did send His peace and provision as Joseph continued to put his trust in the Lord's direction. He eventually was released from prison and rose to the position of second in command in Egypt. Joseph continued to walk with the Lord; he even gave forgiveness to his brothers, saying to them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish now what is being done…".

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When I look at these two stories, here are a few questions:

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Do I tend to grumble and complain when things don't go my way?

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Do I trust God with ALL my heart in times of uncertainty?

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What practical ways can I trust him more in a difficult situation or unknown path?

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In these stories, I see both parties questioning God. Really, I think God is fine with our questions. Even Jesus questioned His Father on the cross. What God is after is the attitude of our hearts. Do the questions we raise to Him come from a place of angry mistrust, or are they a plea for His help in the midst of our diverse circumstances? He must discipline the former, but He honors the latter. Let's bring our BIG questions to the Lord, and ask Him to quiet us in whatever answer He chooses to give, all the while remembering, He is ALWAYS working for our ultimate good.

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Will you trust Him?

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‍Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy…I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. Psalm 130:1-2, 5

The previous few ABC posts are entitled: Offer Help Often, Prince of Peace Please Come, and Quiet my Questioning Heart. Today, it's Rest with Him, Run with Him.

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‍Rest with Him, Run with Him? Synopsis of 1 Samuel 18:5-16, 19:9-18.

Long ago, a man named Saul became the appointed king of Israel. The people were proud of King Saul, for he was taller than any of his people from his shoulders upward (I Samuel 10:23). The Israelites wanted Saul to represent strength and power to all the other nations. King Saul did lead mightily for a time but his heart did not rest nor run with the Lord. As a matter of fact, Saul was driven by jealousy and anger because of a young shepherd boy named David who had killed the Philistine giant. The Israelites began to praise David's name over that of Saul's, which was infuriating to him. Many times Saul tried to kill David with his own spear, causing David to flee from his presence. Instead of pursuing God, King Saul ran after David; because of this misdirected ambition, his soul never found rest.

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‍Rest with Him Run with Him! Synopsis of Psalm 23, 18:28-36.

‍David, on the other hand, both rested and ran with the Lord. As a young shepherd boy, he learned how to be quiet as he watched over the sheep, and also, he learned how to fight as he protected them from predators. This trust and training is what gave him the confidence to face and then slay Goliath. In time and by God's appointment, David became king over Israel. Although his reign was not flawless, his life was marked by receiving forgiveness and then living in obedience to his God. Because of these qualities, God called David "a man after His own heart." David knew how to both rest and run with the Lord.

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When looking at the two men, I have to ask myself:

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What controls my thoughts, and then possibly my actions?

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Do I desire "rest" or do I just want to "run" on my own emotions and actions?

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What are practical ways that I can implement "resting with the Lord" each day?

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It is safe to say that if you're not resting with the Lord, then your soul is ...restless. Saul was fitful because his mind was full of jealousy; this emotion drove his actions. But David, on the other hand, knew how to be still before the Lord. In this quiet space, he poured out his heart and he knew he was heard.  We see much of his raw emotion and his absolute trust throughout the pages of the psalms. After David poured out, God was able to pour in. Then, and only then, was David ready for battle.

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Let's learn how "to be" and how "not to be" from these two men.  Choose to be still and bring all your hurts and all your desires before the Lord. Daily rest with Him, so that you can daily run with Him.

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‍For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing. Isaiah 30:15